Work on temporary Leo Frigo bridge supports underway

Oct. 15, 2013

Work was expected to begin Monday to install temporary support around the sagging portion of the Leo Frigo Memorial Bridge. / File/Gannett Wisconsin

Beginning the week of Oct. 14, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation is having lateral supports installed at the top of piers 21, 22, 23 and 25 (Pier 22 shown in this illustration) on the Leo Frigo Memorial Bridge.The temporary measure is being done to enhance worker safety and will be removed once the pier foundations are permanently repaired. / Submitted by Wisconsin Department of Transportatio

Two steel truss towers will be placed under the Leo Frigo Memorial Bridge's deck on both sides of and 55 feet away from Pier 22. They are designed to stabilize the bridge and keep the deck from further sagging. / Submitted by Wisconsin Department of Transportatio

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Work began Monday on a temporary steel frame to support Green Bay’s sagging Leo Frigo Memorial Bridge.

Much of the early work won’t be visible until the support towers start going up, likely sometime early next week, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

The bridge has been closed since Sept. 25 when it was found to be sagging about 2 feet after motorists reported a dip in the pavement. It has sunk another three-quarters of an inch since then.

The state Department of Transportation hired Lunda Construction Co. of Black River Falls to buiild the stabilization structure at a cost of $1.5 million. Lunda crews will erect two steel towers beneath the bridge on either side of the sagging Pier 22, which is located on the east side of the Fox River span.

The temporary steel frame is intended to prevent further sagging while state and federal investigators work to diagnose and correct the problem. Early projections put the cost of reparing the bridge at perhaps $50 million.